making a ride plate

[surferdude345]

so i got bored today and i cast a mold off the stock ride plate...then i attempted to make myself a ride plate it went better then i expected but not perfect- the plate is perfect but it has way to much flex. this is what i used what did i do wrong?
The plate i made is 3 layers of 12 oz biaxial glass with a light cloth on the bottom to smooth it out. I used west systems epoxy resin with the 205 harder. i layed the glass used a roller to get extra resin out then sandwiched glass between my mold and the stock ride plate. It came out perfect but too flexy what do i need to do - more glass, carbon , kevlar? something ?

Thanks

 

[WaveDemon]

you probably need one more layer.

 

[Mouthfulloflake]

Or several more layers.

is it flexing because it didnt cure well?

or because it simply isnt strong enough?

 

[BlueBreadTruck]

what did you use to make a mold? maby a layor of carbon?

 

[snowxr]

Either use more layers to make it close to the thickness of a stock rideplate, or use carbon to give strength. Keep in mind that the mounting area should be the same thickness as a stock plate so that it matches the shape of the hull when you bolt it on.

 

[joe b]

I'm thinking you might have got the resin & hardener mix off. Are you using the west systems pumps or did you eye it up. The 205 is the fast hardener with @ 10 min. pot life and I'm thinking if you had the mix right you would'nt have enough time to lay-up a ride plate.

 

[Goose]

sounds like you need more thickness.throw a couple layers of mat in their to thicken it up

 

[Flash-FX]

You might need another 3 layers (6 total) of 12oz. biax. CF really stiffens them up on the first and last layers. I like to use 2mm coremat to lighten them up without loosing the stiffness. The first one I made has like 3 layers of coremat in the main center area. With about a 11/4" of heavy cloth around the perimeter for the bolt hole supports. The plate I run for the surf actually will float.

 

[gj_fx1]

All woven cloth (not biax) would have been better. Cloth gets you more fiber loading plus the fibers all run in the direction you want.
Enough better I don't know.

Also it would be good to get some metal inserts in there at the mount holes.

 

[deblaster]

I think it took seven layers before mine stopped moving.

 

[surferdude345]

the ratio of resin to harder is right - i used pumps and they were on the right can- it sounds like more layers is the guess or throw some cf in there

 

[dbrutherford]

Flash that is a sweet looking plate! I have been debating on trying to make my own X2 hood. I have an old one to pull the mold off of. I have done soem fiberglass repair with Autozone Bondo fiberglass repair kits. But where can you get a vacuum bag kit and where do you guys buy your West Systems at?

DAVE

 

[surferdude345]

west systems at uscomposites.com they might have vac bag stuff not sure

 

[Flash-FX]

Flash that is a sweet looking plate! I have been debating on trying to make my own X2 hood. I have an old one to pull the mold off of. I have done soem fiberglass repair with Autozone Bondo fiberglass repair kits. But where can you get a vacuum bag kit and where do you guys buy your West Systems at?

DAVE

http://www.x-h2o.com/threads/9841 Did you ever check out my 1/2 re-build? Some parts of it might help you out.

 

[dbrutherford]

Thanks guys! Yeah I browsed US Composites before.